Manually operated can punching device



Dec. 4, 1962 R, CRAVEN 3,066,410

MANUALLY OPERATED CAN PUNCHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Her/nan R. Cm ven Dec. 4, 1962 H. R. CRAVEN MANUALLY OPERATED CAN PUNCHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1961 u n a Em M Mr m on T n n w MW NQ g llnited rates Patent Vendo iCornpany, Kansas Qity, Mr, a corporation of Missouri Filed .lan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 89,313 8 Claims. (Cl. Sill-6.1)

This invention relates to apparatus for opening containers containing liquid beverages and particularly to a can punching device especially adapted for utilization in conjunction with vending machines which dispense canned liquids in the nature of soft drinks or other similar beverages.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a can punching device which is adapted to be flush mounted in the door or front Wall of a vending machine cabinet and which includes mechanism permitting a purchaser of a container containing a liquid beverage, to open the can by placing the beverage container within the opening device followed by operation of a lever projecting outwardly from the cabinet and with the purchaser being protected from spray because of effervescence of the beverage as the can seal is broken, by virtue of a door located in closing relationship to the can opener chamber during the time of punching of the top of such can.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a can punching device of the type described wherein a pair of piercing elements are simultaneously driven into the upper end of the can to provide a pair of spaced openings therein so that upon removal of the punched can from the can opening device, the beverage may be consumed directly from the can or poured with ease into a suitable receptacle.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a manually operable can punching device wherein the piercing elements which are directed into the upper end of the can during opening thereof, are maintained at a sufliciently high temperature to kill all bacteria adhering thereto and thus maintaining the piercing elements in a sterile condition at all times. In this respect, an additional important object of the invention is to employ resistance heating means in the piercing elements for maintaining the latter at the predetermined high temperature referred to above and with the temperature thereof being substantially constant by virtue of thermostatic means coupled to the source of electrical energy for the heating means.

A further important feature of the invention is to provide a manually operable can punching device of the type referred to wherein the can is disposed in a chamber forming a part of the mechanism and with the punching ele ments being shiftable into and out of the chamber so that the customer cannot touch the hot elements at any time, which could cause burns or other serious injury. In this respect, it is an important object to provide means on the operating handle of the device for preventing opening of the door normally closing the can receiving chamber, so that when the operating handle has been shifted in a direction to cause the piercing elements to move down into the can chamber, the customer cannot reach into the chamber where it would be possible for him to come into contact with the hot piercing means.

Another important aim of the invention is to provide a manually operable can punching device wherein opening of the can is very simple by virtue of the fact that the customer need only open the door to the can opening mechanism, insert the can into the chamber therein, release the door which is spring returned to the normal disposition thereof, followed by movement of the operating handle from one position to the opposite location thereof whereby the piercing elements are driven into Zifiiltidllll Patented Dec. 4, i962 2 the upper extremity of the can Within the chamber, followed by release of the handle which is spring returned to the original disposition thereof, and permitting removal of the opened can be simply reopening the door disposed in closing relationship to the chamber access closure.

Other important objects and details of construction of the present invention will become obvious. or be explained in greater detail as the following specification progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a manually operable can punching device embodying the preferred concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the device as shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the disposition of the operating handle at the end of the path of travel thereof opposite to that shown in FIG. 1, a part of the front door of the device being broken away to illustrate the disposition of the can piercing elements when the same are at the lowermost ends of their paths of travel;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the can punching device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the can piercing elements being at the upper ends of their paths of travel;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view similar to PEG. 3 but showing the disposition of the piercing elements and the cam operated mechanism for shifting same, in the disposition thereof when the operating handle for the cam parts is in the location thereof as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows;

E16. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the irregular line 6-6 of HG. 2 and looking downwardly; and

7 is a fragmentar horizontal cross-sectional View on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3 and also looking downwardly.

Manually operable can punching mechanism is broadly designated by the numeral iii in the drawings and which is adapted to be flush mounted in a recessed condition in the door or front wall of a vending machine cabinet or other equivalent enclosure. A generally rectangular frame 12 serves as means for mounting a main housing 14- which is preferably in the nature of a casting of alumi num or the like, with housing 14 in turn supporting can opening apparatus 16.

The main frame 12 includes an upper, relatively narrow rail section 18, a lower, substantially wider rail section 26} and narrow side rail sections 22 and 24- integral With and interconnecting upper and lower rail sections 13 and Ztl respectively. Normally inwardly extending flanges 18a, Zzlla, 22a and 24a, integral with corresponding rail sectioni 18 to 2d, reinforce frame 12 and render the latter relatively rigid.

The housing 14, carried by frame 12, includes an outer rectangular section 26 provided with upper and lower rails 28 and 3 interconnected by opposed, parallel, normally upright side rails 32, and 34 which complementally engage the outer faces of rail sections 22 and 24 in the same manner that rails 23 and 3t engage upper and lower rail sections 13 and 2% respectively. A pair of intermediate, transversely extending rails as and 38 prox-hnal to rail 28 and integral with opposed side rails 32 and 34, present a horizontal, elongated, relatively narrow opening so therebetween and extending between rails 32 and 34 for clearing the operating handle 42 of can opening apparatus 16. The space between rails 28 and as is filled with a rectangular strip .4 which may be integral with the components of housing 14, or may be separate therefrom and containing instructions for opera- I? tion of mechanism as well as other desired means of identifying the nature of the present structure.

The inner margins of rails 30, 32, 34 and 38 present a rectangular opening 46 which is normally closed by a generally rectangular door 48 which is mounted on the upright section 49 of housing 14 by vertically spaced hinge means 59 (FIG. 6) at the upper and lower left-hand corners of door 48 viewing FIG. 1, to permit swinging of door 43 through an arc whereby the customer may have access to the interior of housing 14. A handle 52 secured to the outer face of door 48 remote from hinges 50 facilities opening of the latter. Although not illu trated in the drawings, it is to be understood that spring means is provided in conjunction with hinges 51 in order to bias door 4% into the normally closed position thereof.

Inasmuch as it is desirable that housing 14 be removable from frame 12, the rail sections 22 and 24 of frame 12 are preferably provided with a number of openings therein for clearing threaded members connected to side rails 32 and 34 respectively and extending through the openings in rail sections 22 and 24. Wing nuts 54 removably threaded onto the projections extending through side rail sections 22 and 24, releasably couple frame 12 to housing 1 4m the disposition thereof illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Housing 14 is also provided with a semicylindrical segment 56 integral with and extending rearwardly from rectangular section 26 and including a semicylindrical side wall 58 of a vertical height substantially equal to the vertical dimension of opening 46 with upper and lower semi-circular end walls 61} and 62 serving to close opposed ends of segment 56. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6, walls 58, 6t and 62 cooperate to present a semicylindrical chamber 64 adapted to receive a can or the like to housing 14 in the dispositon thereof illustrated in inner surface of wall 58, have opposed, facing, arcuate surfaces 76 and 72 respectively for guiding a cylindrical can to be opened, toward the central portion of chamber 64. A rectangular pusher member 74 on the inner face of door 48 assures that the can is pushed toward the back of chamber 64 upon closing of door 48.

A generally U-shaped component broadly numerated 76 and integral with upper rail 28 and portions of side rails 32 and 34 respectively, includes a pair of opposed, elongated, parallel, generally rectangular legs 78 and 80 having outer, rectilinear surfaces 32 lying in a common vertical plane, with legs 78 and 80 being interconnected by upper rectangular bight 84 having an outer surface 86 coplanar with surfaces 82. An elongated upright shaft 88 is positioned between upper wall 60 of segment 56, and the lower face of bight 84 and is rotatable with respect to housing 14. As indicated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, a collar or bearing 90 is provided on the upper face of wall 64] for rotatably receiving the lower extremity of shaft 88, while suitable washer or hearing means 92 is carried by bight 84 intermediate the ends thereof for rotatably receiving the upper end of shaft 88. A screw 94 threaded into the upper end of shaft 88 and engaging the upper washer 92 on bight 84, maintains shaft 88 in predetermined disposition throughout the time of rotation thereof, it being noted that shaft 38 has a shoulder or eqiuvalent means engaging the lower washer or bearing means 92 below bight 84 for preventing upward movement of shaft 88.

The generally cylindrical cam member broadly designated 96 is provided with a cylindrical upper wall portion 9 8 in coaxial relationship to shaft 88 and shiftable longitudinally of the latter by virtue of the lower cylindrical section 100 of member 96 being provided with an opening 102 therein substantially complemental with shaft 88 as indicated in FIG. 5. Section 100 is cut away in the front thereof as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to present a fiat, forwardly facing surface 104 which receives the elongated, generally rectangular central section 106 of an alignment bracket 108 secured to member 96. Opposed,

4 generally L-shaped legs 110 and 112 of bracket 108 and integral with central section 106 thereof, include inwardly extending portions 114 which are secured to section 100 by fastening means 116. The outwardly projecting leg portions 118 of legs 116 and 112 engage respective surfaces 82 of legs '78 and 80 of component 76 to thereby prelude rotation of bracket 1% about the axis of shaft 38. Coil springs 12% interconnecting leg portions 118 of legs 11d and 112, and the bight 84 of component 76, bias cam member 96 toward the upper end of its path of travel and away from semicylindrical segment 56 of housing 14.

The cylindrical wall portion 98 of cam member 96 is provided with a pair of opposed, elongated slots 122 therein which are disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of shaft 88 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Manually operable handle 42 includes an elongated lever arm 124 provided with an inner, rectilinear stretch 124a which extends through shaft 88 as shown in PEG. 9 and is slidably received in opposed slots 122 in cylindrical wall portion 98 of cam member 96. In order to prevent a customer from reaching into the interior of housing 14 through horizontal opening 40, a generally cylindrical collar 126 is positioned around cam member 96 in complemental engagement with the cylindrical wall portion 98 thereof and provided with a pair of openings 12 therein for receiving stretch 124a of lever arm 124 to thereby maintain collar 126 in alignment with opening 40.

The upper end Wall 60 of semicylindrical segment 56 is provided with a pair of openings 130 and 132 therein on opposite sides of shaft 88 as indicated in FIG. 7, for clearing respective piercing elements 134 and 136 connected to the underside of section 100 of cam member 96 and depending therefrom. The piercing element 134 is of generally circular transverse configuration and is provided with a beveled lower surface 138 to facilitate entrance of such element into the upper end of the can to be opened. The piercing element 136 is of generally triangular cross-sectional configuration and is also provided with a beveled lower surface 140 to minimize the pressure required to force element 136 through the 11pper end of the can.

In order to maintain piercing elements 134 and 136 in a sterile condition at all times, a resistance heating element 142 is embedded in the section 100 of cam member 96 with electrical lines 144, joined to heating element 142, extending to a suitable source of electrical power. If desired, a thermostat may be provided in conjunction with heating element 142 to maintain piercing elements 134 and 136 at a predetermined temperature sufficient to kill all bacteria adhering to the outer surfaces of the piercing elements.

The mechanism described above is operable to permit opening of 11 oz. or 12 oz. cans, but if it is desired to adapt the can punching mechanism for opening of the larger cans as well as smaller 9 oz. cans, this can readily be accomplished by providing auxiliary support means in the nature of support plates 146 and 148 pivotally carried by housing 14 and extending into the interior of chamber 64 as shown in FIG. 6. Each of the plates 150 of supports 146 and 148 is of generally trapezoidal configuration and disposed in a common horizontal plane. Lugs 152 and 154, integral with rails 32 and 34 respectively of rectangular section 26 of housing 14, serve as means for swingably mounting plates 150 on opposite sides of chamber 64, by virtue of bolts 156 passing through plates 150 and corresponding lugs 154. Nuts 15% threaded onto corresponding bolts 156 below lugs 152 and 154 maintain proper tension on coil springs 160 which are disposed in surrounding relationship to the upper extremities of bolts 156 and provided with opposed legs 162 and 164 engaging the frame 12 and correspond ing plates 15% for biasing the latter toward segment 56. As shown in FIG. 3, the wall 58 of segment 56 is provided with a pair of opposed slots 166. and 167 therein for clearing plates 156 of supports 146 and 148 respectively. Bracing legs 168 connected to the underface of each of the plates 151] and depending therefrom, are positioned Within chamber 64 defined by segment 56 and are of sufficient length to engage the upper face of end wall 62 to thereby maintain plates 1511 in proper horizontal disposition regardless of the weight placed on such plates. As shown in FIG. 6, plates 150 of each of the supports 146 and 148 has outwardly facing beveled edges 171 which are adapted to be engaged by the can as the latter is pushed into chamber 64 to effect swinging movement of plates 156 through corresponding slots 166 and 167 as an 11 oz. or 12 oz. can is placed in chamber 64.

In order to limit swinging movement of door 48 to a predetermined are, a longitudinally curved stop member 172 is secured to the inner face of door 48 adjacent the upper extremity thereof and is provided with an upwardly extending projection 174 at the outer extremity thereof. The inner vertical wall 176 of frame 12 is provided with a rectangular opening 178 therein of sufficient width to clear the stop member 172 with the exception of projection 1'74 thereon. Thus, when projection 174 engages the inner surface of wall 176 during opening of door 48, further movement of such door is precluded.

A knob 18% is provided on the outer extremity of stretch 1241; of lever arm 124 to facilitate manual rota tion of operating handle 42.

In order to prevent the customer from opening door 48 during operation of handle 42, an elongated pin 182 is mounted on stretch 124]) of lever arm 124 adjacent door 48 and disposed to engage the upper margin of door 48 if the latter is attempted to be opened during the time that handle 42 has been swung to the right viewing FIG. 1 in order to effect movement of piercing elements 134 and 136 into the interior of chamber 64. The upper left-hand corner of door 48 is provided with a notch 1 84 therein for clearing the lower end of pin 182 when operating handle 42 has been returned to the lefthand disposition thereof, as indicated in FIG. 1.

in operation of mechanism and assuming that it is desired to open a 12 oz. can containing a liquid carbonated beverage, the customer grasps handle 52 and pulls the same outwardly to swing door 48 about hinges 56 to thereby provide access to the semicylindrical chamber 64 defined by segment 56 of housing 14 The can to be opened is pushed into chamber 64 between end walls 611 and 62 and with the side wall of the can engaging opposed surfaces 176 of plates 156 of supports 146 and 148. As the can moves inwardly, the plates 158 are biased outwardly through respective slots 166 and 167 and against the action of springs 160. The arcuate surfaces '71) and 72 of guides 66 and 68 respectively, assure that the can is in proper disposition directly below the piercing elements 134 and 136.

It should be pointed out at this juncture that when the piercing elements 134 and 136 are in stand-by condition as shown in PEG. 3, the elements are out of chamber 64 so that the customer cannot be burned or injured because of touching the elements which are in a relatively hot condition because of the heating element 142 Also, the customer cannot swing operating handle 42 to the right viewing FIG. 1 to lower piercing elements 134 and 136 into the interior of chamber 64, during the time that door 48 is open, because the pin 182 on lever arm 124 engages the inner margin of stop member 172 which is located at the top edge of door 48 in proximity to the corner thereof having notch 184 therein.

As soon as the can is properly positioned within chamber 64, the customer releases door 48 whereby the latter is returned under spring pressure to the closed location thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Next, the operating handle 42 is swung to the right to thereby cause shaft 88 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction viewing FIG. 5, whereby stretch 124a of lever arm 124 slides in angularly disposed slots in cylindrical wall portion 98 of cam member 96 and the latter is forced downwardly along the longitudinal length of shaft 88. During such downward movement of cam member 96, the latter moves relative to collar 126 which remains in alignment with opening 46 in housing 14 by virtue of collar 126 being carried by stretch 124a of arm lever 124. Shifting of cam member 96 downwardly causes piercing elements 134 and 136 to be lowered into the chamber 64 through respective openings and 132 whereby the beveled surfaces 138 and 140 respectively thereof engage the top of the can and pierce the latter as the elements continue downward movement. It is to be noted that the cam member 96 is forced downwardly against the action of coil springs 120 so that after operating handle 42 has been swung to the extreme right position thereof as shown in FIG. 2, the customer may release operating handle 42 whereby the latter is returned to the initial disposition thereof under the influence of coil springs 1213 which force bracket 168 and thereby cam member 96 to the uppermost end of its path of travel and as stretch 124a of lever arm 124 slides in respective angular slots 122 toward the upper extremities of the latter.

During the time that the customer is shifting operating handle 42 to the right, it is impossible for the door 48 to be opened by virtue of the pin 182 engaging the upper margin of door 48 if an attempt is made to open the latter. In this manner, the customer is protected at all times from being splattered with the liquid in the container during opening thereof, this being particularly important with respect to effervescent beverages, and also, the customer cannot in any way contact the relatively hot piercing elements 134 or 136, and cannot be injured by the sharp points thereof presented by beveled surfaces 138 and 14% Another important feature of the present invention is the fact that if coil springs 120 fail to return operating handle 42 to the left-hand disposition thereof, because of hanging of piercing elements 134 and 136 on the can, the customer may return the handle to the initial disposition thereof and the piercing elements 134 and 136 are retracted out of chamber 64 as the top of the can engages the underface of end wall 66.

It is also contemplated that the collar 126 be chrome plated in order to cause mechanism 10 to have a finished appearance and to dress up the slot 40 through which operating handle 42 projects.

The opening of smaller cans, such as the 9 oz. variety, is accomplished in the same manner as described above with the exception that such cans are positioned on support plates 156 of supports 146 and 148 whereby piercing elements 134- and 136 are forced downwardly into the upper end of such cans as the operating handle 42 is shifted across the front of mechanism 11 Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Can opening mechanism comprising a housing defining a chamber for receiving a can and having an access opening therein; movable closure means carried by the housing and normally disposed in closing relationship to said access opening; manually operable means within the housing for opening a can disposed in said chamber; and means coupled to said closure means and said can opening means for preventing operation of the latter unless said closure means is in said normal position thereof closing said access opening.

2. Can opening mechanism comprising a housing defining a chamber for receiving a can and having an access opening therein; movable closure means carried by the housing and normally disposed in closing relationship to said access opening; manually operable means within the housing for punching at least one opening in a can disposed in said chamber; and means coupled to said closure means and said can opening means for preventing operation of the latter unless said closure means is in said normal position thereof closing said access openmg.

3. Can opening mechanism comprising a housing defining a chamber for receiving a can and having an access opening therein; movable closure means carried by the housing and normally disposed in closing relationship to said access opening; means within the housing for punching at least one opening in a can disposed in said chamber; manually operable, shiftable means coupled to said can opening means and extending outwardly from said housing to permit manual operation of said can opening means from a position externally of the housing; and means carried by said manually operable means and engageable with said closure means for preventing movement of the latter to an open position when said manually operable means has been shifted in a direction to efiect operation of said can opening means.

4. Mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said can opening means comprises an elongated piercing element and means mounting the element within the hous ing for movement into and out of said chamber, said element being shiftable into said chamber a suificient distance to effect piercing of a can disposed therein.

5. Mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein is provided means coupled to said shiftable mounting means for the element, for biasing the latter in a direction away from said chamber, and cam means connected to said element mounting means and operable by said manually operable means for shifting said element mounting means in a direction to move said element into the chamber and against the action of said means biasing the element away from said chamber, in response to operation of said manually operable means.

6. Mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said manually operable means includes an elongated lever arm pivotally carried by the housing, operably coupled to said cam means, and extending outwardly from said housing.

7. Mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for preventing movement of the closure means to said open' position thereof when said lever arm has been shifted in a direction to move said element into the chamber, comprises an elongated extension on said lever arm and engageable with said closure means for preventing substantial opening thereof until the lever arm has been returned to the initial position of the same whereby the extension clears said closure means to permit opening of the closure means.

8. Mechanism as set forth in claim 5, wherein said cam cam means includes a shaft rotatably mounted Within said housing, a cam member surrounding said shaft, connected to said element mounting means for movement therewith and having a cam surface thereon at an angle with respect to the path of travel of the element, and manually operable means including a component extending through said shaft and engaging said cam surface on the member to effect shifting of the latter in response to operation of said manually operable means and as said component slides along said cam surface.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,603,858 Bruce et al. July 22, 1952 2,747,272 Smith et a1 May 29, 1956 2,779,096 Moore Jan. 29, 1957 2,785,460 Johnson et al. Mar. 19, 1957 2,897,590 Meadows Aug. 4, 1959 2,913,821 Anderson Nov. 24, 1959 2,916,817 Nordquist Dec. 15, 1959 2,916,818 Baselt Dec. 15, 1959 2,958,942 Fazekas Nov. 8, 1960 

